J. Howard Hicks Jr., 70, a native of Winston-Salem, died at the Ralph Johnson VA Medical Center in Charleston, S.C., on Friday, March 19, 2004, after an extended illness. Mr. Hicks was the son of the late Howard and Helen Hicks of Winston-Salem and a graduate of Hanes High School. He served in the Army Security Agency and then began his career with Piedmont Airlines in 1960. He retired as a captain in 1985 and in recent years resided in Edisto Island, S.C. During some of that time, he operated his own charter deep sea fishing boat. Mr. Hicks was preceded in death by his son, Michael. He is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Melvin and Margaret Hicks of Louisville, Ky.; and his special longtime friend, Margaret Anne Haskell of Summerville, S.C. His body is being cremated and a memorial service is being planned for a date to be announced later. Parks Funeral Home of Summerville, S.C., is in charge of the arrangements.

Howard was a fine person to work with . He was always ready to work with the station personnel to resolve a problem in such a manner as to accomadate the maximum revenue. He was one of those Captains who seldom encountered an overload problem that could not be resolved in some way that avoided a loss of revenue . I vividly remember his quick visits to AVLOO to bum a dip if Skoal or Copenhagen while his flight was being serviced. It was personnel such as him that helped make PAI a friendly and profitable airline.

Sure remember Howard coming through BNA, heading for DEN. Do any of you remember the wild boar races he participated in in Colorado? He brought one through BNA once and while one of our ramp agents was looking at it, it "charged" the agent from right inside the crate. Scare the you know what out of our city bred agent! Howard thought that was so funny! He kept doing so well out there with his wild boars that one year his competition got his boars quarantined until after the event was over.

The following from Donnie Martin - great story - Donnie:
Sorry to hear of Capt. Howard Hicks' passing. His name brings back a memory from LYH.

Captain Hicks was on a YS-11 that stopped in LYH and got a HOT START which made a loud boom and lots of smoke. He got on the PA and told the F/As to "GET EM OFF". They popped the chutes and everyone slid off! A security policeman saw all of this happening and called 911 or what ever the emergency number was back then.

Needless to say all of the fire trucks and ambulances in LYH came to the airport along with reporters, TV, etc. The firemen climbed onto the wing of the aircraft with a hose and was going to squirt water into the engine.

I pleaded, begged and DEMANDED that he not put water into the engine. The fireman said it's smoking and on fire. I told him that it was just kerosene fumes and to please not put water into the engine. I told him that the city of Lynchburg might have to buy the engine if he put water into it.

He finally agreed and climbed down. Later that day, another crew and a mechanic arrived and started the aircraft and flew it to INT.

The CHO Station Crew enjoyed Capt. Hicks ,he always had a big smile and hand shake ..His son Attended Blue Ridge School at Dyke, Va. for a while.This pvt. scholl was about 6 miles west of the CHO Airport

I flew my first trip with Capt. Hicks in a YS-11 - it was a charter to MYR from INT - I was scared to death of making a mistake but Capt. Hick's cool calm demeanor made the trip great - I was finally flying for Piedmont! I will always remember him and wish his family the good blessings. Ty Lee 15185 emp. #

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